Austin, TX Architects and Building Designers

Is the scope of your home design project beyond simply replacing countertops or flooring? It’s the responsibility of an Austin home architect to transform human needs and desires into visual concepts and habitable structures. When you hire an architectural designer, you are not only hiring someone for their architectural services, but also to manage and coordinate other parties involved in the project. As you search through Austin, TX interior architects and designers, keep in mind the following tips to help you choose the perfect one: More

"I have worked with Cornerstone Group on several occasions. I have found them to be very creative while remaining true to their customer's goals and desires. They also hit their time commitments which really helps with keeping the project on track. I would definitely recommend their services."

- Butterfield Custom Homes

Vanguard Studio Inc.

Architects and Building Designers in Austin, TX

"John from Vanguard Studio, is extremely easy to work with. I worked with him as both a client and as a builder representing clients and had great experiences with him and his extemely helpful and friendly staff. John is very talented and has a great eye for scale and proportions as well as great architectural details. He designs beautiful homes and anyone will be lucky to work with John to design their home."

- New Urban Home Builders

Danze & Davis Architects, Inc.

Architects and Building Designers in Austin, TX

"I can't tell you how much I love our Lake Travis home Donovan Davis drew/designed for us. I am certainly not the easiest to please and I am absolutely thrilled with the end results. Donovan was able to capture the lake views from every room and achieved it with amazing style and design. Not only do we have a view from every room but we can see the stars and the moon from several rooms which is truly amazing and one of my favorite features! Donovan was fun to work with, he listened to all of our wants and made my dreams a reality. He surpassed all of my expectations and his passion for Architectures shows when you look at my home. We have had numerous people stop to say how much they like the design of our home so don't hesitate to use this firm they are true professionals that love what they do! Thank you Donovan and Harrison Davis!"

- jctx

Tim Cuppett Architects

Architects and Building Designers in Austin, TX

"We have worked with Tim Cuppett and the Tim Cuppett Architects team on two projects and cannot recommend them highly enough. For our first project (a whole-house remodel of a 1954 single story ranch home) we interviewed half a dozen architects. The bar was high as every firm in the group was talented, creative, and had excellent reputations.
Tim and team distinguished themselves in three ways. First, Tim engaged us in an honest dialog about our project goals and really listened to what we wanted in terms of function and design. It sounds simple but most firms come to the table with preconceived notions you need to 'talk them out of' and that was not the case with TCA. We always felt like they let our goals shape the creative process. Second, Tim was not shy about suggesting elements that enhanced form and function. While he was willing to standup for his ideas, and we used many of them, he remained flexible and never overbearing. That flexibility was a huge asset to us as design met reality during the build phase. Third, he was realistic about cost and time line. Many firms tell you what you want to hear and the result is a negative surprise later in the process...once it is too late.
Our initial project was such a success (great design, highly functional, on time, and on budget) that we asked Tim and team to work with us on our new home. While this project will happen in phases the initial work (our pool and surrounds) was completed last year. We are really looking forward to getting started on the house. Thanks Tim!!"

- mikerovner

Element 5 Architecture

Architects and Building Designers in Austin, TX

"We hired architect Richard Hughes, of Element 5 Architecture, to redesign the living areas of our 1957 home. We wanted more light and greater functionality for the space. From the beginning, Richard was professional, approachable, listened to our needs, and communicated his concept well. He was also open to the ideas that my husband and I had about our project and incorporated many of those into the final design. Work was done in a timely manner, and the final result is a more inviting and useable space that’s great for entertaining and for everyday living."

- gene2454

Moontower

Architects and Building Designers in Austin, TX

"Maggie at Moontower Designs was awesome! She met with us to define the scope of the design work we needed; researched materials and products that fit our needs and our budget; and met our expectations for deadlines. She built us a Houzz "scrapbook" so that we could envision how the products and materials she recommended would be used... this is a great touch since we lacked the vision ourselves!
I've recommended Moontower Design to colleagues, and I plan to contact them first before making any future design (or build) choices!"

- V N

Barley|Pfeiffer Architecture

Architects and Building Designers in Austin, TX

"We came to Barley & Pfeiffer after exploring a lot of options for our old but not-distinctive house. We were impressed with the way Peter Pfeiffer's house, which we saw on a home tour, embodied sustainable building practices without looking funky. We wanted a project that would incorporate the details that we loved from our old house with smart, energy efficient construction and a contemporary layout suitable for our growing family.
We found that Barley & Pfeiffer as a firm provided all the skills we needed to come out at the end with the house we wanted. Alan's design skills, Peter's building science knowledge, and Scott's detailed project management work all combined to give us a beautiful house that works really well for our family, has very low maintenance requirements, and consumes dramatically less energy than most other houses, both of a similar size and much smaller. The money we have not spent on heating and cooling this house in the past seven years could well pay for a new car.
If you are going to spend the money to substantially renovate an existing home or build a new home, think carefully about what it will cost to maintain what you end up with. "Green building" is a trend now and many builders and architects claim to be "green," but few firms have the depth of expertise and years of dedication to sustainable building that Barley & Pfeiffer can provide. What you spend up front on excellent design and construction management will be recouped many times over in savings on the cost of living and maintenance.
We enjoyed working with Barely & Pfeiffer and would choose them again."

- annphipps

Stuart Sampley Architect

Architects and Building Designers in Austin, TX

"I have worked with Stuart Sampley on several residential projects and I genuinely enjoy learning from him. He is a straight shooter who works for win-win solutions for everyone involved including the client, contractor and subs. He is a talented and thoughtful designer who is mindful of the bottom line. Clients always feel well cared for when working with Stuart because he is honest and committed to doing the job right the first time. I have recommended Stuart to many of my friends."

- Rebekah Gainsley

Webber + Studio, Architects

Architects and Building Designers in Austin, TX

"As a contractor I LOVE working with Webber+ Studio. Their plans are fantastic, they do their own interiors, and they are very detailed. This allows me to give detailed and correct bids with very few allowance assumptions. This saves their clients huge amounts of cash and headaches by making these decisions in the pre-construction time. Very few firms have this mix of good office management and amazing design savvy. I very highly recommend them!"

- Risinger Homes

Dick Clark + Associates

Architects and Building Designers in Austin, TX

"Excllent Architect. One of the best if not the best in Austin TX. Do your research. May be higher end but your ROI will be definitely greater. Highly recommend"

How do I find the best Austin architect for my home design project?

It is best to hire a home architect who will be involved in all phases of the design process, from the initial concept to the completed construction. The architect is often the first person you will hire for your project. If necessary, they might also help you select and hire Texas subcontractors, which can include the builders, engineers and landscaper. Interior architects are also involved in negotiating contracts for all involved participants. It is for these reasons that it is extremely important for you to have a good relationship with the Austin residential architect you hire. He or she can be the tie-breaking vote between you and the general contractor and can be your biggest advocate during the construction process. Different architecture firms in Austin, TX provide different services, so the scope of the work can span from pre-design environmental impact studies to selecting furniture and finishes, depending on what your specific needs are.

What sort of process can I expect from a residential architect?

As far as the process goes, the architecture firm or individual that you choose will start with concept drawings and finish with construction drawings and documents. Some firms even design with 3D renderings and videos, but that should not be assumed. There should be plenty of meetings between you and your building designer until you have agreed upon a design that you are completely happy with. Always keep in mind that the designer will have building codes to follow, and likely pre-existing design limitations when dealing with a remodel, so while they might not be able to execute your exact ideas they always have your safety and aesthetics in mind. One of the most important duties of a residential architect is to serve as managers and supervise most aspects of construction, as well as facilitate communication between all other contractors, so you can expect them to be present throughout the entire building process to ensure everything is executed as planned.

It is very important to hire the right professional for the job. Remember that the most well-known or established designer might not provide the best architectural services for your needs. It all comes down to the individual project. Research and ask people whose work you like for recommendations. It's important to have somewhat of an idea of the style of house architecture that you prefer, as well as the amount you would like to spend. Residential architects in Austin, TX are natural problem solvers. They will assess the entire situation and help you to solve your problems too. Don't settle for a single company too early. Call and interview a few. Make sure that you feel like your personalities will mesh well and that you like their professional perspective.

Questions to ask prospective Austin interior architects:

What is your fee structure?

What does the cost include?

Do you have professional liability insurance?

Can you handle my special requests (ADA, LEED etc.)?

What types of renderings (3D, video, illustrative) will you produce?

What is your experience with similar projects?

When do you expect to start and be finished with the project?

What do your services include? (It's best that the services are until construction is completed.)

What happens when the cost exceeds the budget?

Can you provide me with references?

Would you say your work has a defining style? (This is important in case the architect's personal style will interfere with your vision.)

Will you help with hiring a general contractor and subcontractors?

What do you estimate the cost will be?

What will I need to provide?

Are there any complications you foresee with this project?

Find a home architect in Austin, TX on Houzz. Narrow your search in the Professionals section of the website to Austin architects. You may also look through photos of Texas projects to find interior architects and building designers who have worked on a project similar to yours. You can find more architects & building designers in Sunset Valley, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Hays and Mountain City.